Portable and modular cooking oil cleaning and cooking oil replenishment system

ABSTRACT

A portable and modular cooking oil cleaning system includes a wheeled carriage module, a filtering module rested on the wheeled carriage module, and a pump module removably coupled to the wheeled carriage module. The pump module includes a cooking oil return outlet coupled in fluid communication to a cleaned cooking oil inlet configured to be removably coupled in fluid communication to the cleaned cooking oil outlet of the filtering module so as to form a cooking oil flow pathway through the filtering and pump modules from the filtering module to the cooking oil return outlet of the pump module, and a pump. The pump generates a flow of used cooking oil through the cooking oil flow pathway, and the filter system of the cooking oil filtering module entraps contaminants from the flow of used cooking oil in the cooking oil flow pathway through the cooking oil filtering module.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to restaurant equipment and supplies and,more particularly, to apparatus and methods for cleaning andreplenishing deep fat fryer cooking oil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are two principle components of proper maintenance of commercialdeep fryers. First, the machine parts of the fryer must be periodicallyinspected, cleaned, serviced, and, when required, replaced. Second, thecooking oil must be regularly filtered, regularly replenished, andperiodically replaced. The best way to prolong the life of the cookingoil is to filter it regularly. Although the filtering frequency dependson cooking volume and the type of cooking oil, it is recommended thatthe cooking be filtered daily at least once or twice. The cooking oilshould be replaced when it turns dark brown or starts to smell or beginsto impart an unpleasant taste to food, and this normally occurs with theoil reaches approximately 24 TPC (Total Polar Compounds or Total PolarMaterials). Filtering and replacing commercial deep fryer cooking oilshould be done quickly, efficiently, and safely to reduce downtime andto minimize labor costs. To this end, there is a need in the art for acooking oil filtering and replenishment system that is easy toconstruct, easy to assembly, easy to clean and disassemble fortransport, that is lightweight and portable so as to be easily movedabout as needed, that is useful for efficiently filtering andreplenishing cooking oil, and that is easy to use without the need forspecialized training.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a portable and modularcooking oil cleaning system includes a wheeled carriage module, afiltering module, and a pump module. The filtering module is rested onthe wheeled carriage so as to be readily removable, and includes a usedcooking oil inlet, a cleaned cooking oil outlet, and a filter systemtherebetween. The pump module is removably coupled to the wheeledcarriage module, which means that pump module is joined to wheeledcarriage module in such a manner as to be readily separable and is amore permanent connection than simply resting on the wheeled carriagemodule as with the filtering module. The pump module includes a cookingoil return outlet coupled in fluid communication to a cleaned cookingoil inlet configured to be removably coupled in fluid communication tothe cleaned cooking oil outlet of the filtering module so as to form acooking oil flow pathway through the filtering and pump modules from theused cooking oil inlet of the filtering module to the cooking oil returnoutlet of the pump module, and a pump for generating a flow of usedcooking oil through the cooking oil flow pathway. The filter system ofthe cooking oil filtering module is for entrapping contaminants from theflow of used cooking oil in the cooking oil flow pathway through thecooking oil filtering module. The pump module is removably coupled tothe wheeled carriage module with mechanical fastening. The filter systemincludes a separator filter in the cooking oil flow pathway through thefiltering module between the used cooking oil inlet and the cleanedcooking oil outlet, and a pre-filter in the cooking oil flow pathwaythrough the filtering module between the used cooking oil inlet and theseparator filter for removing gross solid contaminants from the flow ofused cooking oil before the separator filter. The separator filter isheld in the cooking oil flow pathway by a filter tray mounted to thefiltering module. A frame is coupled to the filter tray so as to holdthe separator filter to the filter tray. A brace assembly is configuredto hold the frame to the separator filter so as to hold the separatorfilter to the filter tray. The brace assembly is carried by the filtertray and consists of spring-loaded braces configured to extend towardthe frame so as to urge the frame to the separator filter. The cookingoil return outlet is a pipe fitting configured to be removably coupledin fluid communication to an outtake hose fitting of an outtake hose. Afitting kill switch is operatively coupled between the pipe fitting ofthe cooking oil return outlet and the pump for enabling the pump inresponse to a competent coupling between the outtake hose fitting of theouttake hose and the pipe fitting of the cooking oil return outlet, andfor disabling the pump in response to an incompetent coupling betweenthe outtake hose fitting of the outtake hose and the pipe fitting of thecooking oil return outlet. The pump module is fashioned with acompartment closeable with a detachable cover. There is another killswitch operatively coupled between the detachable cover and the pump forenabling the pump in response to a competent closure of the compartmentwith the detachable cover, and for disabling the pump in response to anincompetent closure of the compartment with the detachable cover. Thecompartment houses a battery power source operatively coupled to powerthe pump.

According to the principle of the invention, a portable and modularcooking oil cleaning and cooking oil replenishment system includes awheeled carriage module, a filtering module, a pump module, and a freshcooking oil module. The filtering module is rested on the wheeledcarriage so as to be readily removable, and includes a used cooking oilinlet, a cleaned cooking oil outlet, and a filter system therebetween.The pump module is removably coupled to the wheeled carriage module. Thefresh cooking oil module is rested on the pump module so as to bereadily removable. The pump module is removably coupled to the wheeledcarriage module as set forth above, and this means that pump module isjoined to wheeled carriage module in such a manner as to be readilyseparable and is a more permanent connection than simply resting on thewheeled carriage module as with the filtering module or simply restingon pump module as with fresh cooking oil module. The pump moduleincludes a cooking oil return outlet coupled in fluid communication to afresh cooking oil inlet, and a cleaned cooking oil inlet configured tobe removably coupled in fluid communication to the cleaned cooking oiloutlet of the filtering module so as to form a filtering cooking oilflow pathway through the filtering and pump modules from the usedcooking oil inlet of the filtering module to the cooking oil returnoutlet of the pump module, a pump for generating a flow of used cookingoil through the filtering cooking oil flow pathway, and a valve coupledbetween the cleaned cooking oil and fresh cooking oil inlets. The filtersystem of the cooking oil filtering module is for entrappingcontaminants from the flow of used cooking oil in the cooking oil flowpathway through the cooking oil filtering module. The fresh cooking oilinlet of the pump module is configured to be removably coupled in fluidcommunication to the fresh cooking oil module so as to form a freshcooking oil flow pathway from the fresh cooking oil module to thecooking oil return outlet of the pump module, and the pump is forgenerating a flow of fresh cooking oil through the fresh cooking oilflow pathway. The valve of the pump module is adjustable between acleaned cooking oil setting isolating the cooking oil return outlet fromthe fresh cooking oil inlet, and a fresh cooking oil setting isolatingthe cooking oil return outlet from the cleaned cooking oil inlet. Thepump module is removably coupled to the wheeled carriage module withmechanical fastening. The filter system includes a separator filter inthe cooking oil flow pathway through the filtering module between theused cooking oil inlet and the cleaned cooking oil outlet, and apre-filter in the cooking oil flow pathway through the filtering modulebetween the used cooking oil inlet and the separator filter for removinggross solid contaminants from the flow of used cooking oil before theseparator filter. The separator filter is held in the cooking oil flowpathway by a filter tray mounted to the filtering module. A frame iscoupled to the filter tray so as to hold the separator filter to thefilter tray. A brace assembly is configured to hold the frame to theseparator filter so as to hold the separator filter to the filter tray.The brace assembly is carried by the filter tray and consists ofspring-loaded braces configured to extend toward the frame so as to urgethe frame to the separator filter. The cooking oil return outlet is apipe fitting configured to be removably coupled in fluid communicationto an outtake hose fitting of an outtake hose. A fitting kill switch isoperatively coupled between the pipe fitting of the cooking oil returnoutlet and the pump for enabling the pump in response to a competentcoupling between the outtake hose fitting of the outtake hose and thepipe fitting of the cooking oil return outlet, and for disabling thepump in response to an incompetent coupling between the outtake hosefitting of the outtake hose and the pipe fitting of the cooking oilreturn outlet. The pump module is fashioned with a compartment closeablewith a detachable cover. There is another kill switch operativelycoupled between the detachable cover and the pump for enabling the pumpin response to a competent closure of the compartment with thedetachable cover, and for disabling the pump in response to anincompetent closure of the compartment with the detachable cover. Thecompartment houses a battery power source operatively coupled to powerthe pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portable and modular cookingoil cleaning and cooking oil replenishment system constructed andarranged in accordance with the principle of the invention, the systemincluding a wheeled carriage module, a pump module configured to beremovably coupled to the wheeled carriage module, a cooking oilfiltering module, including a filter system that includes a pre-filterand a separator filter assembly, adapted to be rested on the wheeledcarriage module, and a fresh cooking oil module configured to be restedon the pump module;

FIG. 2 is a front, left side perspective view of the system of FIG. 1shown as it would appear assembled with the pump module removablycoupled to the wheeled carriage module, the cooking oil filtering modulerested on the wheeled carriage module, and the fresh cooking oil modulerested on the pump module;

FIG. 3 is a front, right side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a rear, left side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wheeled carriage module firstillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a right side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8, theopposite left side elevation view being substantially the same thereof;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view illustrating a parking break of theembodiment of FIG. 8 shown as it would appear unlocked;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11 illustrating the parkingbrake as it would appear locked;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the pump module first illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are rear elevation views of the embodiment of FIG. 7illustrating covers of the pump module removed so as to show pumpequipment housed within interior compartments of the pump module;

FIG. 19 is a section view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a section view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 21 is a section view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 22 is a section view taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 23 is a front elevation view of the cooking oil filtering modulefirst illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a section view taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 23 with portionsthereof being broken away for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 27 is view similar to that of FIG. 23 illustrating a lid as itwould appear open so as to open a used oil inlet leading to the interiorof the cooking oil filtering module;

FIG. 28 is a section view taken along line 28-28 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a view similar to that of FIG. 25 illustrating the filtersystem, first illustrated in FIG. 1, as it would appear installed withinthe interior of the cooking oil filtering module with the lid shown asit would appear open as in FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 29 with portionsthereof being broken away for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged section view illustrating a coupling between thefilter system of FIG. 1 and a drain formed in a sub-floor of thefiltering module;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the pre-filter of the filter systemfirst illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the separator filter assembly of thefilter system first illustrated in FIG. 1, with portions thereof beingbroken away for illustrative purposes, the separator filter assemblyincluding a filter tray assembly consisting of a filter tray and ahandled frame, and a separator filter held between the filter tray andthe handled frame, with spring-loaded braces of the filter tray shown asthey would appear in braced positions bracing the handled frame againstthe separator filter so as to hold the separator filter in place;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the filter tray assembly of FIG. 3shown as it would appear without the separator filter;

FIG. 35 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the filter tray of FIG. 33 with thespring-loaded braces shown as they would appear in raised, unbracedpositions;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the filter tray of FIG. 33 with thespring-loaded braces shown as they would appear in lowered, bracedpositions;

FIG. 38 is a partially schematic side elevation view of the embodimentof FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 is a partially schematic side elevation view of the embodimentof FIG. 37;

FIG. 40 is a section view taken along line 40-40 of FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the fresh oil tank module firstillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 42 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 41;

FIG. 43 is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 41; and

FIG. 44 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention isdirected to FIG. 1 in which there is seen an exploded perspective viewof a portable and modular cooking oil cleaning and cooking oilreplenishment system 50 constructed and arranged in accordance with theprinciple of the invention. In general, system 50 includes a wheeledcarriage module 51, and a pump module 52 configured to removably coupledin cooking oil fluid communication to both to a filtering module 53 forpumping cooking oil to be cleaned via filtering through a filteringcooking oil flow pathway of filtering module 53 and pump module 52, andto fresh cooking oil module 57 for pumping fresh cooking oil through afresh cooking oil flow pathway of fresh cooking oil tank module 57 andpump module 51 for cooking oil replenishment and/or replacement. Theseaforementioned modules are each self-contained, namely, a complete andindependent unit in and of itself. The modularity of system 50 allows itto be easily assembled and disassembled. Pump module 52 is configured tobe removably coupled to wheeled carriage module 51 as shown in FIGS.2-7. Filtering module 53, which includes a filter system 54 made up of apre-filter 55 and a separator filter assembly 56, is adapted to berested on wheeled carriage module 51 as shown in FIGS. 2-7 so as to heldby wheeled carriage module so as to be readily removable. The resting orrested application of filtering module 53 to wheeled carriage module 51is a form of a coupling of filtering module 53 to wheeled carriagemodule 51, which couples filtering module 53 to wheeled carriage module51. Fresh cooking oil module 57 is configured to be rested on pumpmodule 52 as shown in FIGS. 2-7 so as to be readily removable. Theresting or rested application of fresh cooking oil module 57 to pumpmodule 52 is a form of a coupling of fresh cooking oil module 57 to pumpmodule 52, which couples fresh cooking oil module 57 to pump module 52.

Pump module 52 is removably coupled to wheeled carriage module 52 as setforth above, and this means that pump module 52 is joined to wheeledcarriage module 51 in such a manner as to be readily separable and is amore permanent connection than simply a rested or resting application,such as the rested or resting application of filtering module 53 towheeled carriage module 51 and the rested or resting application offresh cooking oil module 57 to pump module 51. When assembled as inFIGS. 2-7, system 50 is portable in that is easily wheeled about viawheeled carriage module 51 and is useful for cleaning used cooking oilfrom deep fat fryers via filtering at filtering module 53, and forreplenishing and replacing used deep fat fryer cooking oil with freshdeep fat fryer cooking oil from fresh cooking oil module 57. Again, themodular construction of system 50 defined by the aforementioned modularcomponents allows system 50 to be easily assembled as in FIGS. 2-7 foruse in cooking oil cleaning and replenishment, and allows system 50 tobe easily disassembled as in FIG. 1 for convenient storage and transportduring periods of nonuse.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7 in relevant part, pump module 52 has a manifold141 including a cooking oil return outlet 60 coupled in fluidcommunication to a cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 and to a fresh cookingoil inlet 66, and a valve 67 coupled between cleaned cooking oil inlet61 and fresh cooking oil inlet 66. Cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 isconfigured to be removably coupled in fluid communication to a cleanedcooking oil outlet 64 of filtering module 53 via a cleaned cooking oilconduit or hose 65 so as to form a filtering cooking oil flow pathwaythrough filtering module 53 and through pump module 52 via manifold 141from cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 to cooking oil return outlet 60. Hose65 is considered a cleaned cooking oil intake hose for conveying cookingoil from filtering module 53 cleaned via filtering to pump module 52.Pump module 52 has a pump operatively coupled to manifold 141 so as tobe operative to pump cooking oil through manifold 141 for generating aflow of cleaned used cooking oil through the described filtering cookingoil flow pathway, and filter system 54 of cooking oil filtering module53 is for entrapping contaminants from the flow of used cooking oil inthe described filtering cooking oil flow pathway through the filteringmodule 53 so as to clean the used cooking oil via filtering so as toproduce cleaned used cooking oil.

Fresh cooking oil inlet 66 of pump module 52 is configured to beremovably coupled in fluid communication to a fresh cooking oil outlet69 fresh cooking oil module 57 via a fresh cooking oil conduit or hose68 so as to form a fresh cooking oil flow pathway of fresh cooking oilmodule 57 and pump module 52 via manifold 141 from fresh cooking oilinlet 66 to cooking oil return outlet 60. Hose 68 is considered a freshcooking oil intake hose for conveying fresh cooking oil from freshcooking oil module 57 to pump module 52. The pump of pump module 52 isoperatively coupled to manifold 141 so as to be operative to pumpcooking oil through manifold 141 for generating a flow of fresh cookingoil through the described fresh cooking oil flow pathway.

Valve 67 of pump module 52 is adjustable between a cleaned cooking oilsetting and a fresh cooking oil setting. In the cleaned cooking oilsetting, valve 67 isolates cooking oil return outlet 60 from freshcooking oil inlet 66 so as to isolate and enable the filtering cookingoil flow pathway from the fresh cooking oil flow pathway. In the freshcooking oil setting, valve 67 isolates cooking oil return outlet 60 fromcleaned cooking oil inlet 61 so as to isolate and enable the freshcooking oil flow pathway from the filtering cooking oil flow pathway. Inthe cleaned cooking oil setting of valve 67, the filtering cooking oilflow pathway is enabled and the fresh cooking oil flow pathway isdisabled, whereby system 50 is configured for use in cleaning usedcooking oil via filtering through the filtering cooking oil flowpathway. In the fresh cooking oil setting of valve 67, the fresh cookingoil flow pathway is enabled and the filtering cooking oil flow pathwayis disabled, whereby system 50 is configured for use in providing freshcooking oil from fresh cooking oil module 57 via the fresh cooking oilflow pathway for cooking oil replenishment or replacement purposes.Cooking oil return outlet 60 is configured to be removably coupled influid communication to a cooking oil delivery wand 70 via a cooking oilreturn conduit or hose 71 for use in aiming and applying cleaned cookingoil to a deep fat fryer via wand 70 in the cleaned cooking oil settingof valve 67, and for use in aiming and applying fresh cooking oil to adeep fat fryer via wand 70 in the fresh cooking oil setting of valve 67.Hose 71 is considered a cooking oil outtake hose. Wand 70 is easilytaken up and wielded by hand for focusing a stream of cooking oiltherefrom into a deep fat fryer.

§A. The Wheeled Carriage Module

Referring to FIGS. 1-10 in relevant part, wheeled carriage module 51 isself-contained and is fashioned of paneled sheet metal, such as aluminumor steel sheet metal, the various parts of which are bent to shape andfastened together with welding and/or fasteners, such as rivets. Wheeledcarriage module 51 consists of a generally U-shaped carriage body,denoted at 77, including a floor 80 that extends between opposed,parallel, upstanding side sheets 81 at the opposed sides of wheeledcarriage module 51. Side sheets 81 extend upright from floor 80 to uppermarginal edges 81A at the top of the carriage body 77. Floor 80 and sidesheets 81 define and extend between a rear end 82 and an opposed frontend 83. Rear end 82 is formed with a transom 82A connected betweenbottom 80 and side sheets 81. Front end 83 and the top of the carriagebody between upper marginal edges 81A of side sheets 81 are open to agenerally U-shaped filtering module receiving area or pocket 84 definedby and between floor 80 and side sheets 81, and between transom 82 atrear end 82 to front end 83. Pocket 84 is adapted to receive and holdvia resting filtering module 53, and this is discussed in more detailbelow. Upstanding lips 80A are formed in floor 80 along front end 83 ofcarriage body 77 of wheeled carriage module 51, which interact withfiltering module 53 when rested on wheeled carriage module 51 inreceiving area 84 so as to inhibit filtering module 53 from slipping outof receiving area 84 front end 83 of wheeled carriage module 51. A pairof opposed, upstanding brackets 86 is formed on either side of carriagebody 77 near rear end 82, which extend upright from upper marginal edges81A and which are rigidified for enhanced strength with a transverserail rigidly connected between the opposed brackets 86, such as withwelding or rivets.

Carriage body 77 is formed with a pair of opposed rear wheels 90, and apair of opposed front wheels 91, which allows wheeled carriage module tobe wheeled about across floor in a forward direction leading with frontend 83 and in a rearwardly direction leading with rear end 82. Rearwheels 90 are mounted for rotation to wheel supports 92 removablycoupled to the underside of the respective brackets 86 at rear end 82 ofcarriage body 77 along the respective side sheets 81 on either side ofcarriage body 77 near rear end 82, and front wheels 91 are mounted forrotation to the respective side sheets 81 on either side of carriagebody near front end 83. Rear wheels 90 are considerably larger thanfront wheels 91, which are small caster wheels that swivel 360 degreesto allow wheeled carriage module 51 to be steered. Wheel supports 92 areremovably coupled to the underside of the respective brackets 86 withnut-and-bolt assemblies which allows each assembled wheel support 92 andrear wheel 90 to be readily removed when needed, such as for maintenanceor replacement.

Wheeled carriage module 51 has parking brakes 94 used to park wheeledcarriage module 51 so as to keep wheeled carriage module 51 stationary.Parking brakes 94 are identical, and area each associated with one ofrear wheels 90 in the present embodiment. Parking brakes 94 consist ofbrackets 95 affixed to side sheets 81 on either side of carriage body77, and which depend downwardly from the top of carriage body 77forwardly of rear wheels 90 to levered cams 96 mounted for rotationbetween an unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 11, freeing wheeledcarriage module 51 for wheeled movement, and a locked position, shown inFIG. 12, locking rear wheels 90 from rotation for parking wheeledcarriage module 51 so as to keep wheeled carriage module 51 stationary,such as during cooking oil cleaning and replenishment/replacementoperations. In the unlocked position as shown in FIG. 11, levered cam 96is rotated away from the corresponding rear wheel 90. In the lockedposition as shown in FIG. 12, levered cam 96 is rotated against thecorresponding rear wheel 90 isolating the corresponding rear wheel 90from rotation.

§B. The Pump Module

Referring now in relevant part to FIGS. 1-7, and FIGS. 13-18, pumpmodule 52 is self-contained, is configured to be removably coupled towheeled carriage module 51, and consists of a housing 100 that supportsthe functional machine or working parts of pump module 52. Housing 100is fashioned of paneled sheet metal, such as aluminum or steel sheetmetal, the various parts of which are bent to shape and fastenedtogether with welding and/or fasteners, such as rivets. Housing 100 hasopposed side sheets 101 and 102, and a front 103 and an opposed back 104that extend between side sheets 101 and 102. Side sheets 101 and 102 andback 104 extend between a horizontal top 105 at an upper end 106 ofhousing 100, and an opposed lower end 107 of housing 100. Front 103extends downwardly from upper end 106 of housing 100 to marginalextremity 103A located between upper and lower ends 106 and 107 and thatis closer to lower end 107 than to upper end 106, and this forms areceiving area or pocket 110 defined by the portions of side sheets 101and 102 and back 104 extending downwardly from marginal extremity 103A.Extensions 101A and 102A of side sheets 101 and 102 extend upright fromupper end 106 and top 105 of housing 100. A bracket 112 is rigidlyaffixed to the outside of each of extensions 101A and 102A,respectively, such as by rivets, bolts, or other form of mechanicalfasteners, or by welding. A handle 113 is rigidly connected betweenbrackets 112 above top 105, and is available to be taken up by hand forcarrying pump module 52 and for wheeling system 50 about when assembledas in FIGS. 2-7. Handle 113 is integrally formed with brackets 112 inthe preferred embodiment, and may otherwise be rigidly connected withmechanical fasteners, such as rivets or bolts or the like, or welding.

Pump module 52 is configured to be removably coupled to wheeled carriagemodule 51, and again this means that pump module 52 is joined to wheeledcarriage module 51 in such a manner as to be readily separable and is amore permanent connection than simply a rested or resting application,such as the rested or resting application of filtering module 53 towheeled carriage module 51 and the rested or resting application offresh cooking oil module 57 to pump module 51. According to theprinciple of the invention, lower end 107 of pump module 52 is adaptedto be removably coupled brackets 86 formed in rear end 82 of wheeledcarriage module 51. To removably couple lower end 107 to wheeledcarriage module 51, lower end 107 of pump module 52 is applied overbrackets 86 so to apply brackets 86 and rail 87 connected therebetweeninto pocket 110 and so as to locate side sheets 101 and 102 leading tolower end 107 of pump module 52 on the outer sides of brackets 86 withfront 103 facing forwardly in the direction of front end 83 of wheeledcarriage module 51 and back facing in the opposite rearward direction,and brackets 86 are then removably coupled to brackets 86 withmechanical fastening via mechanical fasteners 115, which areconventional nut-and-bolt assemblies in the preferred embodiment. Pumpmodule 52 extends upright from rear end 82 of wheeled carriage module 51and lower end 107 of pump module 52 to upper end 106 of pump module 52formed with handle 113, as shown in FIGS. 2-7. Wheeled carriage module51 extends in a horizontal direction from rear end 82 to front end 83,and pump module 52 extends upright in a comparatively vertical directionfrom lower end 107 to upper end 106 formed with handle 113, with front103 facing forwardly in the direction of front end 83 of wheeledcarriage module 51 and back 104 facing in the opposite rearwarddirection. With this arrangement, the assembly of wheeled carriagemodule 51 and pump module 52 may be wheeled about over the floor.Conveniently, handle 113 is located at an elevated location so as to beavailable to be taken up by hand to wheel the assembly of wheeledcarriage module 51 and pump module 52 about over a floor.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 16, back 104 has two detachable covers 120 and121. Cover 120 is considerably larger than cover 121. Cover 120 is anupper cover and extends between side sheets 101 and 102, and extendsdownwardly from upper end 105 of housing 100 to an intermediate locationbetween upper and lower ends 105 and 106, and cover 121 is a lower coverlocated beneath cover 120 between lower end 107 and cover 120. Covers120 and 121 are detachably connected to housing 100 with mechanicalfasters in the form of threaded bolts 122 so as to be readily separablefrom housing 100.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show back 104 of housing 100 of pump module 52 withcovers 120 and 121 (not shown in FIGS. 17 and 18) detached from back 104of housing 100 so as to illustrate the interior of housing 100 and theworking parts of pump module 52 housed within the interior of housing100. The removal of covers 120 and 121 from back 104 of housing revealsupper and lower compartments 130 and 131, respectively. Compartment 130,which is closeable with cover 120, houses a pump 140 operatively coupledto pump cooking oil through manifold 141 via conventional plumbingtechniques well known to the skilled plumber, an AC/DC power supply 142,a relay switch board module 143, and a battery charger 144, all of whichare mounted with conventional mounting hardware, such rivets and screws.Compartment 131, which is closeable with cover 121, houses a batterypower source 145.

The AC/DC power supply 142 is conventionally wired to plugged power cord147, which extends out from side sheet 102 of housing 100 and which isadapted to be conventionally plugged into a 120V outlet for providingsystem 50 with operational power. AC/DC power supply 142 is entirelyconventional and takes the 120V AC power delivered by power cord 147 andconverts it to a DC output of approximately 450 W to power relay switchboard module 143, battery charger 144, and pump 140, all of which areelectrically connected with conventional electrical wiring/connectionswell known to the skilled electrician.

Switches 160 and 161 at top 105 are system 50 operation switches and areelectrically connected to pump 140 and battery charger 144 via relayswitch board module 143, again with the use of conventional electricalwiring/connections well known to the skilled electrician. Batterycharger 144 is a conventional 3-stage lead-acid gel charger with a 120VAC input and 48 W output. Battery charger 144 is used to charge batterypower source 145, which is a conventional and readily availablerechargeable 12-V DC AH sealed lead acid gel battery. Switches 160 and161 at top 105, illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14, 17, and 18, areconventional toggle switches. Switch 160 is an ON/OFF switch for pumpmodule 52, and switch 161 is a pump switch for pump module 52 foractivating and deactivating pump 140.

Manifold 141 is a chamber that leads to cooking oil return outlet 60,cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 and fresh cooking oil inlet 66, illustratedin FIG. 15. Pump 140 is a conventional 12-V DC 1/3-HP electric pump, andis operatively coupled to pump cooking oil through manifold 141 fromcooking oil return outlet 60, cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 and freshcooking oil inlet 66. Cooking oil return outlet 60 is formed through anopening in front 103 of housing 100 near side sheet 101 between upperend 106 of housing 100 and marginal extremity 103A of front 103 ofhousing 100. Manifold 141 extends downwardly into pocket 110 in adirection toward lower end 107 of housing 100 near side sheet 101 tocleaned cooking oil inlet 61 and fresh cooking oil inlet 66, includingvalve 67 coupled therebetween. Valve 67 is coupled to, and operated by,a handle 67A located in a recess 150 in back 104 of housing 100, asshown in FIGS. 17 and 18. Valve 67 and handle 67A are entirelyconventional, and handle is moved back and forth via rotation betweenthe “T” 151 and the “F” 152 (FIG. 18) as desired so as to adjust and setvalve 67 between its cleaned cooking oil setting corresponding to “T”151 and its fresh cooking oil setting corresponding to “F” 152 (FIG.18). “T” means “filter tank,” whereas “F” means “fresh tank.” Whenhandle 67A moved into to “T” 151 corresponding to the cleaned cookingoil setting of valve 67, a stop bracket 154 may be releasably connectedto back 104 in recess 150 with one or more releasable mechanicalfasteners, such as one or more screws, to interfere with handle 67A soas to prevent handle 67A from being moved from the cleaned cooking oilsetting corresponding to “T” 151 to the fresh cooking oil settingcorresponding to “F” 152 (FIG. 18). To move permit movement of handle67A from the “T” 151 position to the “F” 152 position for adjustingvalve 67 from the cleaned cooking oil setting to the fresh cooking oilsetting, stop bracket 154 need only be removed.

Pump module 52 operates both from a dedicated 120V power source, andfrom onboard battery power source 145. To operate pump module 52 from adedicated 120V power source in what is a direct power mode of operation,power cord 147 is plugged into a conventional 120V electrical outlet. Inthis plugged condition or direct power mode of operation of pump module52 of system 50, AC/DC power supply 142 is powered and enabled, which,in turn, powers relay switch board module 143 and power switch 160.Power switch 160 can be conventionally moved between OFF and ONpositions. In the OFF position of power switch 160, pump switch 161 isdisabled via relay switch board module 143 so as to be inoperative foractivating and deactivating pump 140, and AC/DC power supply 142 powersbattery charger 144 via relay switch board module 143, which, in turn,supplies recharging electrical power to battery power source 145. In theON position of power switch 160, AC/DC power supply 142 powers pumpswitch 161 via relay switch board module 143 and pump switch 161 isenabled via relay switch board module 143 so as to be operative foractivating pump 140 for cooking oil pumping purposes and deactivatingpump 140 by moving pump switch 161 conventionally between ON and OFFpositions, and AC/DC power supply 142 powers battery charger 144 viarelay switch board module 143, which, in turn, supplies rechargingelectrical power to battery power source 145.

To operate pump module 52 from battery power source 145 in a batterypower mode of operation of pump module 52 of system 50, power cord 147is unplugged from a conventional 120V electrical outlet. In thisunplugged condition, AC/DC power supply 142 is unpowered and therebydisabled which, in turn, disables battery charger 144, and battery powersource 145 powers relay switch board module 143 and power switch 160with battery power. Power switch 160 can be conventionally moved betweenOFF and ON positions in this configuration. In the OFF position of powerswitch 160, pump switch 161 is disabled via relay switch board module143 so as to be inoperative for activating and deactivating pump 140. Inthe ON position of power switch 160, battery power source 145 powerspump switch 161 with battery power via relay switch board module 143 andpump switch 161 is enabled via relay switch board module 143 so as to beoperative for activating pump 140 for cooking oil pumping purposes anddeactivating pump 140 by moving pump switch 161 conventionally betweenON and OFF positions.

Pump module 52 also has a pump back-flush switch 162 at top 105, whichis a conventional spring-loaded depression switch that is electricallyconnected to pump 140 and via relay switch board module 143, again withthe use of conventional electrical wiring/connections well known to theskilled electrician. In the OFF position of power switch 160 in both thedirect power and battery power modes of operation of pump module 52 ofsystem 50, pump back-flush switch 162 is disabled via relay switch boardmodule 143 so as to be inoperative for activating and deactivating pump140 for pump back-flushing. In the ON position of power switch 160 inboth the direct power and battery power modes of operation of pumpmodule 52 of system 50, AC/DC power supply 142 powers pump back-flushswitch 162 via relay switch board module 143 and pump back-flush switch162 is enabled via relay switch board module 143 so as to be operativefor activating pump 140 for cooking oil back-flush pumping purposes anddeactivating pump 140 by moving pump back-flush switch 162conventionally between depressed ON and un-depressed OFF positions.Back-flushing pump via the operation of pump back-flush switch 162allows pump 140 to be back-flushed as needed should it become clogged orobstructed with debris.

Compartment 131 housing battery power source 145 is closeable withdetachable cover 121, as previously explained. Keeping compartment 131containing battery power source 145 closed is important for safetypurposes, namely, for preventing electrical shock due to the inadvertentcontact with the active electrical contacts of battery power source 145during the use of pump module 52. For safety purposes in reference toFIGS. 18 and 19, a cover kill switch 164 is operatively coupled betweenthe detachable cover and pump 140 via relay switch board module 143 forenabling pump 140 in response to a competent closure of compartment 131housing battery power source 145 with detachable cover 121, and fordisabling pump 140 in response to a competent closure of compartment 131with detachable cover 121. Cover kill switch 164 is an entirelyconventional kill switch conventionally electrically connected viawiring to relay switch board module 143, and is located within theinterior of housing 100 on one side of compartment 131. Looking to FIGS.19 and 20, a spring-loaded plunger 165 of kill switch 164 projectsoutwardly through an opening in back 104 of housing 100. When cover 121is detached from housing 100, plunger 165 is extended and is not fullydepressed as in FIG. 19, and this defines an incompetent closing ofcompartment 131 with cover 121 and a potentially unsafe condition tooperate pump module 52 safely, whereby a kill switch circuit of killswitch 164 between kill switch 164 and pump 140 is open therebydisabling pump 140 so as to prevent pump 140 from being operated viapump switch 161. When cover 121 is attached to back 104 of housing withfasteners 122, cover 121 is sized so as to be applied over plunger 165and directly contacts plunger 165 so as to be able to depress plunger165. When cover 121 is attached to back 104 of housing 100 withfasteners 122 but is not sufficiently or fully attached so as to leaveplunger 165 not fully depressed, this also defines an incompetentclosing of compartment 131 with cover 121 and a potentially unsafecondition to operate pump module 52 safely, whereby the kill switchcircuit of kill switch 164 between kill switch 164 and pump 140 is stillopen thereby disabling pump 140 so as to prevent pump 140 from beingoperated via pump switch 161. When cover 121 is attached to back 104 ofhousing with fasteners 122 and is sufficiently or fully attached so asto fully depress plunger 165 as in FIG. 20, this defines a competentclosing of compartment 131 with cover 121 and a safe condition tooperate pump module 52 safely, whereby the kill switch circuit of killswitch 164 between kill switch 164 and pump 140 is closed therebyenabling pump 140 so as to allow pump 140 to be activated anddeactivated via pump switch 161.

As explained above, pump module 52 has cooking oil return outlet 60coupled in fluid communication to cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 viamanifold 141. Cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 is, in turn, configured to beremovably coupled in fluid communication to cleaned cooking oil outlet64 of filtering module 53 via a cleaned cooking oil conduit or hose 65so as to form filtering cooking oil flow pathway through filteringmodule 53 and through hose 65 and then through manifold 141 of pumpmodule 51 from cleaning cooking oil inlet 61 to cooking oil returnoutlet 60. Hose 65 is conventional food-grade hose formed of softflexible plastic. Pump 140 of pump module 52 is used to generate a flowof used cooking oil through the described filtering cooking oil flowpathway via pumping in the cleaned cooking oil setting of valve 67.Cooking oil return outlet 60 is also coupled in fluid communication tofresh cooking oil inlet 66 via manifold 141. Fresh cooking oil inlet 66of pump module 52 is configured to be removably coupled in fluidcommunication to fresh cooking oil module 57 via fresh oil conduit orhose 68 so as to form the fresh cooking oil flow pathway from freshcooking oil module 57 through hose 68 and through manifold 141 of pumpmodule 2 from fresh cooking oil inlet 66 to cooking oil return outlet60. Hose 68 is conventional food-grade hose formed of soft flexibleplastic. Pump 140 of pump module 52 used to generate a flow of usedcooking oil through the described filtering cooking oil flow pathway viapumping in the fresh cooking oil setting of valve 67.

Cooking oil return outlet 60 of pump module 52 is configured to beremovably coupled in fluid communication to cooking oil delivery wand 70via a cooking oil return conduit or hose 71, as shown in FIGS. 2 and4-6, for applying cleaned cooking oil to a deep fat fryer via wand 70 inthe cleaned cooking oil setting of valve 67, and for applying freshcooking oil to a deep fat fryer via wand 70 in the fresh cooking oilsetting of valve 67, as previously explained in connection with FIG. 1.Hose 71 is conventional food-grade hose formed of soft flexiblefood-grade silicone. Looking to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 6, cooking oil returnoutlet 60 is a conventional pipe fitting 60A. The free ends of hose 71are formed with identical and conventional hose fittings 72A and 72B,and wand 70 is, in turn, formed with a conventional pipe fitting 70A.Pipe fittings 60A and 70A are conventional male pipe fittings, and hosefittings 72A and 72B are conventional, corresponding female hosefittings. Hose fitting 72A of hose 71 is considered an outtake hosefitting, and is configured to be conventionally removably coupled influid communication to pipe fitting 60A of pump module 52, as shown inFIGS. 2, 4 and 6, for coupling cooking oil return outlet 60 in fluidcommunication to hose 71, and hose fitting 72B is configured to beconventionally removably coupled in fluid communication to pipe fitting70A of wand 70, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, for coupling wand 70 influid communication to hose 71.

Ensuring that hose fitting 72A is properly coupled in fluidcommunication to pipe fitting 60A of cooking oil return outlet 60 isimportant for safety purposes, namely, for preventing cooking oil fromspilling from cooking oil return outlet 60 during cooking oil pumpingoperations with pump module 52. For safety purposes in reference toFIGS. 17, 18, 20 and 21, a fitting kill switch 170 is operativelycoupled between pipe fitting 60A of cooking oil return outlet 60 andpump 140 via relay switch board module 143 for enabling pump 140 inresponse to a competent coupling between hose fitting 72A of hose 71 andpipe fitting 60A of cooking oil return outlet 60, and for disabling pump140 in response to an incompetent coupling between hose fitting 72A ofhose 71 and pipe fitting 60A of cooking oil return outlet 60. Fittingkill switch 170 is an entirely conventional kill switch conventionallyelectrically connected via wiring to relay switch board module 143, andis located within the interior of housing 100 near cooking oil returnoutlet 60. Looking to FIGS. 21 and 22, a spring-loaded tab 174 of killswitch 164 projects downwardly toward pipe fitting 60A of cooking oilreturn outlet 60 at opening 175 formed in front 103 of housing 100through which pipe fitting 60A extends. When hose fitting 72A isdetached from pipe fitting 60A, tab 174 is extends forwardly in thedirection of arrowed line A in FIG. 21 and is not fully depressed as inFIG. 22, and this defines an incompetent coupling of hose fitting 72A topipe fitting 60A and a potentially unsafe condition to operate pumpmodule 52 safely, whereby a kill switch circuit of kill switch 170between kill switch 170 and pump 140 is open thereby disabling pump 140so as to prevent pump 140 from being operated via pump switch 161. Whenhose fitting 72A is coupled to pipe fitting 60A, tab 174 is located tointeract with hose fitting 72A via direct contact as shown in FIG. 22 soas to be able to depress tab 174 in the direction of arrowed line B inFIG. 22. When hose fitting 72A is coupled to pipe fitting 60A but is notsufficiently or fully coupled so as to leave tab 174 not fully depressedas in FIG. 22, this also defines an incompetent closing of hose fitting72A to pipe fitting 60A and a potentially unsafe condition to operatepump module 52 safely because of the possibility of cooking oil leakingbetween hose fitting 72A and pipe fitting 60A, whereby the kill switchcircuit of kill switch 170 between kill switch 170 and pump 140 is stillopen thereby disabling pump 140 so as to prevent pump 140 from beingoperated via pump switch 161. When hose fitting 72A is coupled to pipefitting 60A and is sufficiently or fully coupled so as to fully depresstab 174 as in FIG. 22, this defines a competent coupling of hose fitting72A to pipe fitting 60A ensuring a leak-proof coupling between hosefitting 72A and pipe fitting 60A and a safe condition to operate pumpmodule 52 safely, whereby the kill switch circuit of kill switch 170between kill switch 170 and pump 140 is closed thereby enabling pump 140so as to allow pump 140 to be activated and deactivated via pump switch161.

Cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 of pump module 52 is configured to beremovably coupled in fluid communication to filtering module 53 viacleaned cooking oil conduit or hose 65, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-6, forapplying cooking oil cleaned via filtering from filtering module 53 topump module 52 through manifold 141 from cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 tocooking oil return outlet 60 in the cleaned cooking oil setting of valve67 for application of cleaned cooking oil to wand 70 via hose 71 coupledin fluid communication between cooking oil return outlet 60 and wand 70.Looking to FIGS. 1 and 2, cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 of pump module 53is a conventional pipe fitting 61A. The free ends of hose 65 are formedwith identical and conventional hose fittings 65A and 65B, and cleanedcooking oil outlet 64 of filtering module 53 is, in turn, a conventionalpipe fitting 64A. Pipe fittings 61A and 64A are conventional male pipefittings, and hose fittings 65A and 65B are conventional, correspondingfemale hose fittings. Hose fitting 65A of hose 65 is considered anintake hose fitting, and is configured to be conventionally removablycoupled in fluid communication to pipe fitting 61A of pump module 52, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 22, for coupling cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 influid communication to hose 65, and hose fitting 65B is configured to beconventionally removably coupled in fluid communication to pipe fitting64A of filtering module 53, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, for couplingfiltering module 53 in fluid communication to hose 65.

Fresh cooking oil inlet 66 of pump module 52 is configured to beremovably coupled in fluid communication to fresh cooking oil module 57via fresh cooking oil conduit or hose 68, as shown in relevant part inFIGS. 2-4, for applying fresh cooking oil from fresh cooking oil module57 to pump module 52 through manifold 141 from fresh cooking oil inlet66 to cooking oil return outlet 60 in the fresh cooking oil setting ofvalve 67 for application of fresh cooking oil to wand 70 via hose 71coupled in fluid communication between cooking oil return outlet 60 andwand 70. Looking to FIGS. 1 and 2-4 in relevant part, fresh cooking oilinlet 66 of pump module 53 is a conventional pipe fitting 66A. The freeends of hose 68 are formed with identical and conventional hose fittings68A and 68B, and fresh cooking oil outlet 69 of fresh cooking oil module57 is, in turn, a conventional pipe fitting 69A, which is coupled influid communication to the interior volume of fresh cooking oil module57 with a pipe or conduit 69B. Pipe fittings 66A and 69A areconventional male pipe fittings, and hose fittings 68A and 68B areconventional, corresponding female hose fittings. Hose fitting 68A ofhose 68 is considered an intake hose fitting, and is configured to beconventionally removably coupled in fluid communication to pipe fitting66A of pump module 52, for coupling fresh cooking oil inlet 66 in fluidcommunication to hose 68, and hose fitting 68B is configured to beconventionally removably coupled in fluid communication to pipe fitting69A of fresh cooking oil module 57 for coupling fresh cooking oil module57 in fluid communication to hose 68.

In regards to FIG. 3, a solar panel port 177 is formed through sidesheet 102 of housing 100, and which is also shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.This solar panel port 177 is operatively coupled to battery power source145 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 via relay switch board module 143 to supplyrecharging electrical power to battery power source 145 from aconventional, portable solar panel plugged into solar panel port 177.This provides another option for recharging battery power source 145rather that plugging power cord 147 into an electrical outlet. For thisto work, of course, the solar panel will need to be exposed to solarradiation, as is well known.

§C. The Filtering Module

Looking now in relevant part to FIGS. 23-30, filtering module isself-contained and consists of a container 180 and filter system 54first referenced in FIG. 1. Container 180 is fashioned of sheet metal,such as aluminum or steel sheet metal, the various parts of which arebent to shape and fastened together with welding and/or rivets.Container 180 is made up of wall components including a top 181 and anopposed bottom 182, and opposed sides 183 and 184 that extend between aback 185 and an opposed front 186, all of which cooperate to define avolume 187. An inlet 190 to volume 187 is formed in top 181 near front186. Inlet 190 is encircled and defined by a surrounding lip 191. Inlet190 can be opened and closed with a hinged lid 192, and which can belocked when closed with a conventional latch 193. FIGS. 27-29 showhinged lid 192 as it would appear open so as to open inlet 190, andFIGS. 23-26, and 30 show hinged lid 192 as it would appear closedclosing inlet 190 and also locked with latch 193.

Volume 187 is divided into an upper volume 187A and a lower volume 187Bby a horizontal, intermediate floor 195 located near and above bottom182. Intermediate floor 195 is formed with a drain 196 near front 186,which couples upper volume 187A to lower volume 187B in fluidcommunication. The filtering cooking oil flow pathway through filteringmodule 53 extends from inlet 190 and through upper volume 187A of volume187 to drain 196, and through drain 196 to lower volume 187B of volume187 to conduit 200, and through conduit 200 from lower volume 187B ofvolume 187 to cleaned cooking oil outlet 64. Upper volume 187A isconsiderably larger than lower volume 187B. As such, volume 187A isconsidered a major volume of volume 187 and volume 187B is considered aminor volume of volume 187. A conduit 190 is coupled in fluidcommunication between lower volume 187B at an intermediate locationbetween back 185 and front 186, and cleaned cooking oil outlet 64located along the outer side of top 181 between hinged lid 192 and back184. Conduit 190 extends upwardly from lower volume 187B through top 181to cleaned cooking oil outlet 64, which is a conventional pipe fitting64A. Opposed, exterior handles 202 are formed on top 181 near eitherside of container 180 between hinged lid 192 and back 185, which may betaken up by hand to carry container 180 about as needed. An upstandingreceiver 204 is formed in top 181 of container 180 near side 183, whichis used to receive and hold the end of wand 70 for temporary storageduring periods of nonuse, as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and which isremoved from receiver 204 as in FIG. 2 for use in directing cooking oilinto a deep fat fryer in the use of system 50.

Container 180 holds filter system 54, which is used to clean viafiltering used cooking oil applied through the filtering cooking oilflow pathway of filtering module 53, which extends from inlet 190 andthrough upper and lower volumes 187A and 182B and through conduit 200 tocleaned cooking oil outlet 60. Filter system 54 includes pre-filter 55and separator filter assembly 56, first illustrated in FIG. 6. Lookingto FIG. 32, pre-filter 55 is sieve 210 in the form of a meshed orscreened strainer basket for straining cooking oil, i.e., for separatingfor removing large debris and gross solid contaminants from cooking oil.Sieve 210 has a bottom 211 and an opposed top 212 formed with opposedoutwardly-directed flanges 213 used to rest sieve basket 210 on oppositesides of the surrounding lip 191 encircling and defining inlet 190 tovolume 187. In a preferred embodiment, sieve 210 is a 300 micronstrainer basket.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the separator filter assembly 56 offilter system 54, with portions thereof being broken away forillustrative purposes. Separator filter assembly 56 includes a filtertray assembly 220 consisting of a filter tray 221 and a frame 222, and aseparator filter 223 held between filter tray 221 and frame 222.Separator filter 223 is a conventional pad filter through which usedcooking oil is passed to remove suspended impurities/solids, preferablyhaving a minimum particle size of ½-20 microns, from the used cookingoil so as to clean the used cooking oil via filtering. Frame 222 isformed with an attached handle 222A, such as for taking up and carryingframe 222 and for taking up and carrying separator filter assembly 56when assembled. As such, frame 222 is considered a handled frame. Filtertray 221 has opposed spring-loaded braces 226 used to brace frame 222against separator filter 223 so as to hold separator filter 223 in placeto filter tray 221. Braces 226 are spring-loaded and are configured toextend toward frame 222 so as to urge frame 222 to separator filter 223applied to filter tray 221.

Looking to FIGS. 33-40 in relevant part, filter tray 221 of filteringtray assembly 220 is a metal container having a flat perforated bottom230 that extends between opposed upstanding sides 231 and 232, andopposed upstanding front and rear ends 233 and 234. A central drain 236is formed in perforated bottom 230 near front end 233 of filter tray221, as shown in FIG. 40, which is a section view taken along line 40-40of FIG. 39. Sides 231 and 232 are each fashioned with a brace 226.Braces 226 are identical, each being elongate and having an outer end240 directed toward rear end 234 and an opposed handled inner end 241directed toward front end 233. Braces 226 are positioned along the innersurfaces of sides 221 and 222, respectively, above perforated bottom230, and extend along most of the entire length of sides 221 and 222from outer ends 240 near rear end 235 of filter tray 221, to handledinner ends 241 near front end 233 of filter tray 221.

Forward and rearward pins 244A and 244B extend through correspondingforward and rearward slots 245A and 245B formed through sides 221 and222, respectively, and extend between and connect the respective braces226 positioned along the inner surfaces of sides 221 and 222 tocorresponding straps 247 positioned along the outer surfaces of sides221 and 222. Slots 245A and 245B are down-angled in a direction fromfront end 233 of filter tray 221 to rear end 234 of filter tray 221, asbest shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, and pins 244A and 244B are free to runalong the lengths of slots 245A and 245B, respectively, to permitmovement of braces 226 between braced or lowered positions in adirection toward rear end 234 of filter tray 221 and toward frame 222and perforated bottom 230 of filter tray 221, as shown in FIG. 37 forbracing handled frame 22 against separator filter 223 so as to holdseparator filter 223 in place to perforated bottom 230 of filter tray221 as shown in FIG. 33, and unbraced or raised positions in a directiontoward front end 233 filter tray 221 and away front frame 222 andperforated bottom 230 of filter tray 221, as shown in FIG. 36, to permitthe installation and removal of separator filter 223 and handled frame22 to and from filter tray 221 from front end 233 of filter tray 221.FIG. 38 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 36 looking inthe direction of side 231, with strap 247 shown in phantom outline so asto illustrate the position of pins 244A and 244B in slots 245A and 245Bin the raised/unbraced position of the corresponding brace toward frontend 233 of filter tray 221. FIG. 39 is a side elevation view of theembodiment of FIG. 37 looking in the direction of side 231, with strap247 shown in phantom outline so as to illustrate the position of pins244A and 244B in slots 245A and 245B in the lowered/braced position ofthe corresponding brace toward rear end 234 of filter tray 221.

Springs 248 connected between outer ends 240 of braces 226,respectively, and rear end 234 of filter tray 221 function tospring-load the braces 226 so as to bias braces 226 into theirlowered/braced positions toward rear end 234 of filter tray 221. To movebraces 226 from their lowered/braced positions to their raised/unbracedpositions, one need only take up braces 226 at inner handled ends 241,such as by hand, and pull on braces 226 with a force sufficient toovercome the bias applied by springs 248. The upper forward areas of thepair of opposed slots 245A in sides 231 and 232 of filter tray 221 nearfront end 233 of filter tray 221 are in-turned toward rear end 234 offilter tray 221, which accept the corresponding pins 244A to temporarilyhold braces 226 in their raised/unbraced positions. FIG. 38 shows onesuch pin 244A as it would appear applied into the described in-turnedportion of slot 245A. When pins 244A are in these in-turned portions ofslots 245A, respectively, springs 248 act on braces 226 urging pins 244Ain said in-turned portions of slots 245A, respectively, so as to holdand maintain braces in their raised/unbraced positions. To move braces226 from their raised/unbraced positions to their lowered/bracedpositions, one need only take up inner handled ends 241, such as byhand, and briefly pull on inner handled ends 241 in the direction towardfront end 233 with a force sufficient to overcome the bias applied bysprings 248 to initially remove pins 244A from the above-describedin-turned portions of slots 245A, respectively. At this point, braces226 may be released to allow the bias supplied by springs 248 urge/pullbraces 226 toward rear end 234, whereby pins 244A and 244B rundownwardly along slots 245A and 245B, respectively, so as to move braces226 from their raised/unbraced positions as shown in FIG. 36 to theirlowered/braced positions as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. Springs 248 arecompression springs in a preferred embodiment each having an outer tagend hooked onto rear end 234 of filter tray 221 and an opposed inner tagend hooked onto the outer end 240 of the corresponding brace 226.Although springs 248 are preferably compression springs, any spring formcapable of providing the described bias against braces 226 can be usedwithout departing from the invention.

To install separator filter 223 and frame 222 to filter tray 221, braces226 are moved into their raised/unbraced positions away from perforatedbottom 230 as shown in FIG. 36. Separator filter 223 is inserted ontoperforated bottom 230 from front end 233 of filter tray 221 betweenfront end 233 and braces 226, and then frame 222 is inserted handle 222Aup onto separator filter 223 from front end 233 of filter tray 221between front end 233 and braces 226. At this point, braces 226 aremoved from their raised/unbraced positions to their lowered/bracespositions against the opposed sides of frame 222 as shown in FIG. 33,whereby the spring-loaded configuration of braces 226 cause braces 226to extend toward and against the opposed sides of frame 222 in thelowered/braced positions of braces 226 so as to urge frame 222 toseparator filter 223 applied to filter tray 221 thereby capturing andsecuring separator filter 223 by and between frame 222 and perforatedbottom 230 of filter tray 221. Handle 222A of frame 222 is available tobe taken up by hand for carrying filter tray assembly 220 about and forinstalling filter tray assembly 220 into container 180 of filteringmodule 53. To remove separator filter 223 and frame 222 from filter tray221, for replacing separator filter 223 with a fresh separator filter orfor cleaning and maintenance, the foregoing operation for installingseparator filter 223 and frame 222 to filter tray 221 need only bereversed.

Filter system 54 is installed in container 180, as shown in FIGS. 29-31,in the filtering cooking oil flow pathway through filtering module 53.To install filter system 54 in container 180, hinged lid 192 isunlatched and opened as in FIGS. 27-29 so as to open inlet 190. Theassembled filter tray assembly 220 of FIG. 33 is taken up at handle 222Aand is applied into upper volume 187A of volume 187 rear end 234 firstand perforated bottom 230 down. Perforated bottom 230 is set ontointermediate floor 195 as in FIGS. 29 and 30, and drain 236 is insertedinto drain 196 formed in intermediate floor 195, as is best shown inFIG. 31. An O-ring seal 237 is applied into an annular groove 239 formedin the exterior of drain 236 of filter tray 221. O-ring seal 237 isjoined between the exterior of drain 236 of filter tray 221 and theinterior of drain 196 of intermediate floor 195 so as to inhibit cookingoil blow-by between the exterior of drain 236 formed in perforatedbottom 230 of filter tray 221, and the interior of drain 196 ofintermediate floor 195, as is best shown in FIG. 31. The applicationdrain 236 of filter tray 221 into drain 196 of intermediate floor 195couples upper volume 187A of volume 187 in fluid communication withlower volume 187A of volume 187. After so installing filter trayassembly 220, pre-filter 55 is applied bottom 211 into upper volume 187Athrough inlet 190. Flanges 213 are rested directly against opposed sidesof surrounding lip 191 encircling and defining inlet 190 to volume 187as shown in FIG. 29, and this completes the installation of filtersystem 54. At this point, hinged lid 192 may be closed and latched, ifdesired, as is shown in FIG. 30, or kept open, as in FIG. 29, inpreparation for cooking oil cleaning operations using system 50. Thefiltering cooking oil flow pathway through filtering module 53 extendsfrom inlet 190 and through pre-filter 55 in upper volume 187A andthrough upper volume 187A of volume 187 and through separator filter 223to drain 196 of intermediate floor 195 and drain 236 of filter tray 221.The filtering cooking oil flow pathway passes through drain 236 offilter tray 221 from upper volume 187A to lower volume 187B of volume187 and then to conduit 200, and through conduit 200 from lower volume187B of volume 187 to cleaned cooking oil outlet 64. To remove filtersystem 54 from container 180, the foregoing operation for installingfilter system 54 into container 180 need only be reversed.

As previously intimated, filtering module 53 is configured to be restedon wheeled carriage module 51 as shown in FIGS. 2-6. Specifically, andlooking to FIG. 1, filtering module 53 is sized to fit into receivingarea 84 of wheeled carriage module 51. Bottom 182, sides 183 and 184,and back 185 are contoured to fit the contours of receiving area 84. Toset filtering module 53 into receiving area 84 of wheeled carriagemodule 51, filtering module 53 is taken up by hand, such as at handles202 and is held upright from bottom 182 of container 180 to top 181 ofcontainer 180, and is set bottom 182 first into receiving area 84 so asto rest bottom 182 against floor 80 juxtaposing side 183 of container180 along the inside of side sheet 81 of carriage body 77, juxtaposingside 184 of container 180 along the inside of side sheet 82 of carriagebody 77, juxtaposing back 185 along the inside of rear end 82 ofcarriage body 77, and juxtaposing front 183 along the inside of frontend 83 of carriage body 77, as is shown in FIG. 2. In this way,filtering module 53 is held by carriage body 77 upright from bottom 182at floor 80 to top 181, which extends above upper marginal edges 81A atthe top of carriage body 77 of wheeled carriage module 51. Back 185 ofcontainer 180 of filtering module is partially received in receivingarea 110, under inlets 61 and 66, of pump module 52 removably coupled towheeled carriage module 51. Upstanding lips 80A formed in floor 80 alongfront end 83 of carriage body 77 of wheeled carriage module 51 interferewith front 186 of container 180 near bottom 182 so as to inhibitfiltering module 53 from slipping out from receiving area 84 throughfront end 83 of wheeled carriage module 51.

With filtering module 53 rested in place upon wheeled carriage module51, filtering module 53 may then be coupled in fluid communication topump module 53 as explained above by removably coupling cleaned cookingoil inlet 61 of pump module 52 to cleaned cooking oil outlet 64 offiltering module 53 via hose 65, and this extends and further definesthe filtering cooking oil flow path through hose 65 from cleaned cookingoil outlet 64 of filtering module 53 to cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 ofmanifold 141 of pump module 52 and through manifold 141 in the cleanedcooking oil setting of valve 67 from cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 tocooking oil return outlet 60 for application of cleaned cooking oil towand 70 removably coupled in fluid communication to cooking oil returnoutlet 60 via hose 71. With this arrangement, the assembly of wheeledcarriage module 51 and pump module 52 and filtering module 53 may bewheeled about over the floor. Conveniently, handle 113 is of pump module52 may be taken up by hand to wheel the assembly of wheeled carriagemodule 51 and pump module 52 and filtering module 53 about over a floor.

In the use of system 50 to clean via filtering used cooking oil from adeep fat fryer, system 50 is wheeled over to a deep fat fryer, valve 67is set to the clean oil setting corresponding to “T” as in FIG. 7 andhinged lid 192 to inlet 190 of filtering module 53 is opened as in FIG.29 and used cooking oil is drained or pumped from the deep fat fryerthrough inlet 190 and into pre-filter 55, which strains the used cookingoil so as to remove gross solid contaminants, such as pieces of foodleft in the used cooking oil from deep fat frying, from the flow of usedcooking oil applied through inlet 190 and into upper volume 187A ofvolume 187 of container 180 through pre-filter 55. Pre-filter 55 thusremoves gross solid contaminants from the flow of used cooking oilthrough the filtering cooking oil flow pathway before the separatorfilter 223. Pump 140 of pump module 52 is activated via pump switch 161in either the direct power mode or battery power mode of operation ofpump module 52. When activated, pump 140 draws used cooking oil throughthe filtering cooking oil flow pathway through upper volume 187A frompre-filter 55 to separator filter 223 held by filter tray assembly 220.As pump 140 continues to operate, the used cooking is drawn throughseparator filter 223 which filters to used cooking oil so as to producefiltered or what is considered cleaned cooking oil, which is drawnthrough drain 236 of filter tray 221 from upper volume 187A of volume187 to lower volume 187B of volume 187. Drain 236 is a restrictedcooking oil flow pathway or channel between upper and lower volumes 187Aand 187B, and this produces a suction effect at drain 236 between upperand lower volumes 187A and 187B as pump operates. As pump 140 againcontinues to operate, the cleaned cooking oil applied to lower volume187B is pumped through the filtering cooking oil flow pathway to conduit200 from lower volume 187B of volume 187 to cleaned cooking oil outlet64, to cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 of manifold of pump module 52 viahose 65 removably coupled in fluid communication to cleaned cooking oiloutlet 64 of filtering module 53 and cleaned cooking oil inlet 61 ofmanifold 141 of pump module 52, through manifold 141 from cleanedcooking oil inlet 61 to cooking oil return outlet 60, to wand 70 viahose 71 removably coupled in fluid communication to cooking oil returnoutlet 60 and wand 70, and outwardly through wand 70, which is held andaimed to direct the cleaned cooking oil back into the deep fat fryerfrom wand 70. This process is continued so as to recirculate the cookingoil between the deep fat fryer and the filtering cooking oil flowpathway of system until the cooking oil is sufficiently cleaned viafiltering through filtering module 53. The duration of this cooking oilfiltering process with system 50 depends on the capacity of the deep fatfryer. For instance, a 35-50 pound cooking oil capacity deep fat fryerwill take approximately four (4) minutes to clean via filtering usingsystem 50, and the cleaning time will vary depending on the cooking oilcapacity of the deep fat fryer and the dirtiness of the cooking oil.After this filtering process is complete, pump 140 may be simplydeactivated, after which wand 70 and hoses 65 and 71 may be detached andcleaned in preparation for re-use, pre-filter 55 may be taken up by handand emptied and cleaned in preparation for re-use, filter system may beremoved from volume 187 of container 180, disassembled, cleaned, andreassembled with a fresh separator filter in preparation for reuse, andcontainer 180 may be readily taken up and removed from wheeled carriagemodule 51 and cleaned in preparation for reuse. Because the cooking oilof deep fat fryers becomes depleted over time, it is necessary toperiodically replenish the used cooking oil with fresh cooking oil, andthis is done with the use of fresh cooking oil module 57. In a preferredembodiment, pump module 52 is configured with a conventional built-intimer 178 (FIGS. 17 and 18) operatively coupled to relay switch boardmodule 143 with conventional electrical wiring/connections forautomatically deactivating pump 140 after a predetermined time period ofpump 140 operation, such as a time period of about 1-6 minutes, so as toprevent pump 140 from overheating.

§D. The Fresh Cooking Oil Module

Referring now in relevant part to FIGS. 41-44, fresh cooking oil module57 is self-contained and is a tank 260 fashioned of sheet metal, such asaluminum or steel sheet metal, the various parts of which are bent toshape and fastened together with welding and/or rivets. Container 260 istall slender and is made up of wall components including opposed sides261 and 262, a front 263 and an opposed back 264 that extend between atop 265 and an opposed bottom 266, which together cooperate to define aninterior volume for holding a volume of fresh cooking oil. The interiorvolume of tank 260 is sized to hold approximately 15 gallons of cookingoil in the present embodiment, and tank 260 may be sized to hold greaterto lesser volumes of fresh cooking oil. An inlet for pouring freshcooking oil into tank 260 is formed in top 265, which can be opened andclosed with the usual hinged lid 192′ and latch 193′ like that offiltering module 53. Hinged lid 192′ and latch 193′ are identical tothat of hinged lid 192 and latch 193 of filtering module 53, with theonly difference being that hinged lid 192′ of tank 260 is somewhatsmaller than hinged lid 192 of filtering module 53.

Fresh cooking oil module 57 is configured to be rested on pump module 52as shown in FIGS. 2-7 so as to be readily removable. This is done with ahanger assembly configured to simply suspend fresh cooking oil module 57from pump module 52. The hanger assembly hangers 270 and 271 formed intank 260 as shown in FIG. 43 that relate to corresponding brackets 275and 276 formed in housing 100 of pump module 52 as shown in FIG. 1, andin FIGS. 13 and 14. Hangers 270 and 271 are formed in back 264 of tank260. Hangers 270 and 271 are rigidly affixed to back 264 of tank 260,such as with welding, screws, rivets, or the like. Hangers 270 and 271are spaced apart hanger 270 being above hanger 271, and are locatedbetween sides 261 and 262 and between top 265 and bottom 266. Hanger 270is above hanger 271 and is considered an upper hanger, and hanger 271 isbelow hanger 270 and is considered a lower hanger.

As seen in FIG. 1 and in FIGS. 13 and 14, bracket 275 is formed at theintersection of front 103 and top 105 between side sheets 101 and 102,and bracket 276 is formed in front 103 between top 105 and marginalextremity 103A and between side sheets 101 and 102. Bracket 275 isrigidly affixed to top 105 at the intersection of top 105 and front 103,and bracket 276 is rigidly affixed to front 103, such as with welding,screws, rivets, or the like. Brackets 275 and 276 are spaced apartbracket 275 being above bracket 276, hanger 271. Bracket 275 is abovebracket 276 and is considered an upper bracket, and bracket 276 is belowbracket 275 and is considered a lower bracket.

Upper and lower brackets 275 and 276 of pump module 52 relate to upperand lower hangers 270 and 271 of tank 260 of fresh cooking oil module57. To rest fresh cooking oil module 57 on pump module 52 with pumpmodule 52 removably coupled to wheeled carriage module 51 with front 103facing forwardly in the direction of front end 83 of wheeled carriagemodule 51, tank 260 is simply taken up by hand, held upright from bottom266 to top 265, and applied back 264 first toward front 103 of pumpmodule 52 over wheeled carriage module 51 and filtering module 53 restedon wheeled carriage module 51 so as to locate and register upper hanger270 just over upper bracket 275, and lower hanger 271 just over lowerbracket 276. At this point, tank 260 is moved downwardly in thedirection toward filtering module 53 and wheeled carriage module 51hanging upper and lower hangers 270 and 271 on upper and lower brackets275 and 276, as is shown in FIG. 6, which suspends tank 260 of freshcooking oil module 57 from pump module 52 along front 103 of tank module51, over wheeled carriage module 51 and filtering module 53 rested onwheeled carriage module 51, in the direction of front end 83 of wheeledcarriage module 51 and front 186 of filtering module 53 rested onwheeled carriage module 51, as shown in FIG. 6. By simply hanging upperand lower hangers 270 and 271 on upper and lower brackets 275 and 276 ofpump module 51, tank 260 of fresh cooking oil module 57 is simply restedon pump module 51 so as to be readily separable simply by reversing thishanging operation. Tank 260 of fresh cooking oil module 57 is preferablyhung empty of cooking oil to reduce its overall weight, and may befilled with fresh cooking oil after it is rested via hanging on pumpmodule 51. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, when tank 260 of fresh cooking oilmodule 57 is rested on pump module 51 via hanging/suspending, it islocated substantially at the center of gravity of system 50 between sidesheets 81 of wheeled carriage module 51 and between rear and front ends82 and 83 of wheeled carriage module 51.

With fresh cooking oil module 57 rested in place on pump module 52,fresh cooking oil module 57 may then be coupled in fluid communicationto pump module 53 as explained above by removably coupling fresh cookingoil inlet 66 of pump module 52 to fresh cooking oil outlet 69 of freshcooking oil module 57 via hose 68, and this extends and further definesthe fresh cooking oil flow path through hose 68 from fresh cooking oiloutlet 66 of fresh cooking oil module 57 to fresh cooking oil inlet 66of manifold 141 of pump module 52 and through manifold 141 in the freshcooking oil setting of valve 67 from fresh cooking oil inlet 66 tocooking oil return outlet 60 for application of fresh cooking oil towand 70 removably coupled in fluid communication to cooking oil returnoutlet 60 via hose 71. In this embodiment, pipe or conduit 69B couplingfresh cooking oil outlet 69 consisting of pipe fitting 69A is formed inback 264 of tank 260 near top 265 and side 262. And so with thisarrangement, the assembly of wheeled carriage module 51 and pump module52 and filtering module 53 and fresh cooking oil module 57 may bewheeled about over the floor. Again, handle 113 is of pump module 52 maybe taken up by hand to wheel the assembly of wheeled carriage module 51and pump module 52 and filtering module 53 fresh cooking oil module 57about over a floor.

In the use of system 50 to furnish fresh cooking oil to a deep fat fryerfor replenishment or replacement purposes, system 50 is wheeled over toa deep fat fryer, valve 67 is set to the fresh oil setting correspondingto “F” denoted in FIG. 18. Pump 140 of pump module 52 is activated viapump switch 161 in either the direct power mode or battery power mode ofoperation of pump module 52. When activated, pump 140 draws freshcooking oil through the fresh cooking oil flow pathway from tank 260 tofresh cooking oil outlet 69 via pipe or conduit 69B and to fresh cookingoil inlet 66 via hose 68 removably coupled in fluid communication tofresh cooking oil outlet 69 of tank 260 of fresh cooking oil module 57and fresh cooking oil inlet 66 of manifold 141 of pump module 52,through manifold 141 from fresh cooking oil inlet 66 to cooking oilreturn outlet 60, to wand 70 via hose 71 removably coupled in fluidcommunication to cooking oil return outlet 60 and wand 70, and outwardlythrough wand 70, which is held and aimed to direct the fresh cooking oilinto the deep fat fryer from wand 70. This process is continued untilthe desired amount of fresh cooking oil has been applied to the deep fatfryer or until the supply of fresh cooking oil in tank 260 of freshcooking oil module 57 is depleted, after which pump 140 may be simplydeactivated. Wand 70 and hoses 68 and 71 may be detached and cleaned inpreparation for re-use, if so desired. Again, timer 178 (FIGS. 17 and18) is provided to automatically deactivate pump 140 after apredetermined time period of pump 140 operation, such as a time periodof about 1-6 minutes, so as to prevent pump 140 from overheating.

The invention has been described above with reference to preferredembodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges and modifications may be made to the embodiments withoutdeparting from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changesand modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes ofillustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To theextent that such modifications and variations do not depart from thespirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:
 1. A portable and modular cooking oil cleaningsystem, comprising: a wheeled carriage module; a filtering module, thefiltering module is self-contained, is rested exteriorly on the wheeledcarriage so as to be readily removable from the wheeled carriage, andincludes a used cooking oil inlet, a cleaned cooking oil outlet, and afilter system therebetween; a pump module, the pump module isself-contained, is removably coupled exteriorly to the wheeled carriagemodule so as to be readily removable from the wheeled carriage, andincludes a cooking oil return outlet coupled in fluid communication to acleaned cooking oil inlet configured to be removably coupled in fluidcommunication to the cleaned cooking oil outlet of the filtering moduleso as to form a cooking oil flow pathway through the filtering and pumpmodules from the used cooking oil inlet of the filtering module to thecooking oil return outlet of the pump module, and a pump for generatinga flow of used cooking oil through the cooking oil flow pathway; thefilter system of the cooking oil filtering module for entrappingcontaminants from the flow of used cooking oil in the cooking oil flowpathway through the cooking oil filtering module; the filtering moduleand the pump module are removable from the wheeled carriage moduleindependently from one another; the filter system comprises a separatorfilter in the cooking oil flow pathway through the filtering modulebetween the used cooking oil inlet and the cleaned cooking oil outlet;and the separator filter is held in the cooking oil flow pathway by afilter tray mounted to the filtering module.
 2. The portable and modularcooking oil cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the pumpmodule is removably coupled to the wheeled carriage module withmechanical fastening.
 3. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaningsystem according to claim 1, wherein the filter system furthercomprises: a pre-filter in the cooking oil flow pathway through thefiltering module between the used cooking oil inlet and the separatorfilter for removing gross solid contaminants from the flow of usedcooking oil before the separator filter.
 4. The portable and modularcooking oil cleaning system according to claim 1, further comprising aframe coupled to the filter tray so as to hold the separator filter tothe filter tray.
 5. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning systemaccording to claim 4, further comprising a brace assembly configured tohold the frame to the separator filter so as to hold the separatorfilter to the filter tray.
 6. The portable and modular cooking oilcleaning system according to claim 5, wherein the brace assemblycomprises spring-loaded braces configured to extend toward the frame soas to urge the frame to the separator filter.
 7. The portable andmodular cooking oil cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein thepump module further comprises: the cooking oil return outlet comprises apipe fitting configured to be removably coupled in fluid communicationto an outtake hose fitting of an outtake hose; and a fitting kill switchoperatively coupled between the pipe fitting of the cooking oil returnoutlet and the pump for enabling the pump in response to a competentcoupling between the outtake hose fitting of the outtake hose and thepipe fitting of the cooking oil return outlet, and for disabling thepump in response to an incompetent coupling between the outtake hosefitting of the outtake hose and the pipe fitting of the cooking oilreturn outlet.
 8. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the pump module further comprises: acompartment closeable with a detachable cover; a cover kill switchoperatively coupled between the detachable cover and the pump forenabling the pump in response to a competent closure of the compartmentwith the detachable cover, and for disabling the pump in response to anincompetent closure of the compartment with the detachable cover.
 9. Theportable and module cooking oil cleaning system according to claim 8,wherein the compartment houses a battery power source operativelycoupled to power the pump.
 10. A portable and modular cooking oilcleaning and cooking oil replenishment system, comprising: a wheeledcarriage module; a filtering module, the filtering module isself-contained, is rested exteriorly on the wheeled carriage so as to bereadily removable from the wheeled carriage, and includes a used cookingoil inlet, a cleaned cooking oil outlet, and a filter systemtherebetween; a pump module, the pump module is self-contained, isremovably coupled exteriorly to the wheeled carriage module so as to bereadily removable from the wheeled carriage, and includes a cooking oilreturn outlet coupled in fluid communication to a fresh cooking oilinlet and to a cleaned cooking oil inlet, a filtering cooking oil flowpathway is formed through the filtering and pump modules from the usedcooking oil inlet of the filtering module to the cooking oil returnoutlet of the pump module when the cleaned cooking oil inlet isremovably coupled in fluid communication to the cleaned cooking oiloutlet of the filtering module, a pump for generating a flow of usedcooking oil through the filtering cooking oil flow pathway, a valvecoupled between the cleaned cooking oil and fresh cooking oil inlets, apump switch, electrically connected to the pump, for activating anddeactivating the pump, and a power switch, electrically connected to thepump, movable between an ON position and an OFF position, wherein thepump switch is disabled from activating and deactivating the pump whenthe power switch is in the OFF position, and the pump switch is enabledfor activating and deactivating the pump when the power switch is in theON position; the filter system of the cooking oil filtering module forentrapping contaminants from the flow of used cooking oil in the cookingoil flow pathway through the cooking oil filtering module; a freshcooking oil module, the fresh cooking oil module is self-contained andis rested exteriorly on the wheeled carriage so as to be readilyremovable from the wheeled carriage; a fresh cooking oil flow pathway isformed from the fresh cooking oil module to the cooking oil returnoutlet of the pump module when the fresh cooking oil inlet of the pumpmodule is removably coupled in fluid communication to the fresh cookingoil module, and the pump for generating a flow of fresh cooking oilthrough the fresh cooking oil flow pathway; the valve of the pump modulebeing adjustable between a cleaned cooking oil setting isolating thecooking oil return outlet from the fresh cooking oil inlet, and a freshcooking oil setting isolating the cooking oil return outlet from thecleaned cooking oil inlet; the valve enables the filtering cooking oilflow pathway and disables the fresh cooking oil flow pathway, when thevalve is in the cleaned cooking oil setting; the valve disables thefiltering cooking oil flow pathway and enables the fresh cooking oilflow pathway, when the valve is in the fresh cooking oil setting; andthe filtering module, the pump module, and the fresh cooking oil moduleare removable from the wheeled carriage module independently from oneanother.
 11. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning system andcooking oil replenishment according to claim 10, wherein the pump moduleis removably coupled to the wheeled carriage module with mechanicalfastening.
 12. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning and cookingoil replenishment system according to claim 10, wherein the filtersystem comprises: a separator filter in the cooking oil flow pathwaythrough the filtering module between the used cooking oil inlet and thecleaned cooking oil outlet; and a pre-filter in the cooking oil flowpathway through the filtering module between the used cooking oil inletand the separator filter for removing gross solid contaminants from theflow of used cooking oil before the separator filter.
 13. The portableand modular cooking oil cleaning and cooking oil replenishment systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the separator filter is held in thecooking oil flow pathway by a filter tray mounted to the filteringmodule.
 14. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning and cookingoil replenishment system according to claim 13, further comprising aframe coupled to the filter tray so as to hold the separator filter tothe filter tray.
 15. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning andcooking oil replenishment system according to claim 14, furthercomprising a brace assembly configured to hold the frame to theseparator filter so as to hold the separator filter to the filter tray.16. The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning and cooking oilreplenishment system according to claim 15, wherein the brace assemblycomprises spring-loaded braces configured to extend toward the frame soas to urge the frame to the separator filter.
 17. The portable andmodular cooking oil cleaning and cooking oil replenishment systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the pump module further comprises: thecooking oil return outlet comprises a pipe fitting configured to beremovably coupled in fluid communication to an outtake hose fitting ofan outtake hose; and a fitting kill switch operatively coupled betweenthe pipe fitting of the cooking oil return outlet and the pump forenabling the pump in response to a competent coupling between theouttake hose fitting of the outtake hose and the pipe fitting of thecooking oil return outlet, and for disabling the pump in response to anincompetent coupling between the outtake hose fitting of the outtakehose and the pipe fitting of the cooking oil return outlet.
 18. Theportable and modular cooking oil cleaning and cooking oil replenishmentsystem according to claim 10, wherein the pump module further comprises:a compartment closeable with a detachable cover; a cover kill switchoperatively coupled between the detachable cover and the pump forenabling the pump in response to a competent closure of the compartmentwith the detachable cover, and for disabling the pump in response to anincompetent closure of the compartment with the detachable cover. 19.The portable and modular cooking oil cleaning and cooking oilreplenishment system according to claim 18, wherein the compartmenthouses a battery power source operatively coupled to power the pump. 20.A portable and modular cooking oil cleaning system, comprising: awheeled carriage module; a filtering module, the filtering module isself-contained, is rested exteriorly on the wheeled carriage so as to bereadily removable from the wheeled carriage, and includes a used cookingoil inlet, a cleaned cooking oil outlet, and a filter systemtherebetween; a pump module, the pump module is self-contained, isremovably coupled exteriorly to the wheeled carriage module so as to bereadily removable from the wheeled carriage, and includes a cooking oilreturn outlet coupled in fluid communication to a cleaned cooking oilinlet configured to be removably coupled in fluid communication to thecleaned cooking oil outlet of the filtering module so as to form acooking oil flow pathway through the filtering and pump modules from theused cooking oil inlet of the filtering module to the cooking oil returnoutlet of the pump module, and a pump for generating a flow of usedcooking oil through the cooking oil flow pathway; the filter system ofthe cooking oil filtering module for entrapping contaminants from theflow of used cooking oil in the cooking oil flow pathway through thecooking oil filtering module; the filtering module and the pump moduleare removable from the wheeled carriage module independently from oneanother; and the pump module further includes a compartment closeablewith a detachable cover, and a cover kill switch operatively coupledbetween the detachable cover and the pump for enabling the pump inresponse to a competent closure of the compartment with the detachablecover, and for disabling the pump in response to an incompetent closureof the compartment with the detachable cover.
 21. The portable andmodule cooking oil cleaning system according to claim 8, wherein thecompartment houses a battery power source operatively coupled to powerthe pump.